Garment



` May 15, 1945- v l.. HERscovlcl 2,375,845

GARMENT Filed Jan. 25, 1943 /N VEN Tof? TToR/VEY vide a 'garment like a Patented May 15, 1945 UNITED -sTATEs PATrifrrr @o'FFic-.E

Lillian Herscovci; Outremont,v Quebec, Canada Application-January 25, 1943,."Serial No; 473,446 EInf.CanadaDettemb'er12151942 2`Claims. (0112-4221) Introduction This invention relates to garments and more particularly to maternity garments.

Objects A yprincipal object of the inventionv is to'proskirt or slacks -in which provisionis made for easy a'djustment'tolgures of different sizes. It is a further object 'ofithe invention to provide a'garment of this kind suitable for use by expectant mothers. A further object is to provide a garment of this nature in which the symmetry is not destroyed by the ad justment to different sizes. A still further object is to provide such a garment which is simple to manufacture and convenient to Wear.

These objects and others are accomplished according to a preferred embodiment of the invent-ion by a garment structure including a back I and front permanently secured together at each side through a major portion of their outer edges but free adjacent the top of the garment to form plackets. The corners of the front are adapted for fastening to the back at the top of the plackets. The back includes waistband providing a foundation structure to encircle the body. The front is also provided with excess material for formation of aplurality of pleats. Means are appropriately positioned for gathering in the front to form the .pleats neatly and inconspicuously.

Drawing rI'he invention will be further understood by reference to the accompanying drawing illustratng a preferred embodiment, and in which,

Figure l is a front View of the garment, in this case a skirt, gathered in to its minimum width, the foundation structure formed by the back piece and extensions thereof being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a front view of the skirt shown in Figure 1, in this case, expanded to its maximum width.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the skirt showing the naps ofthe back spread out.

Figure 4 is a top view of the skirt held in an open position to show the adjustable parts in substantially the relative position they will assume when it is worn, with the front drawn in to form pleats as in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the top portion of one side of the front of the garment showing the structure for gathering in the front of the garment to form pleats.

extensions or flaps and a up oi .back pieces I I .tivelysecured i together up.. the garment. LThe .vided with asurplus portion or extension .'I5.'The

Vback is provided Awith abeltl extendingabout the topofftheback piece andits surplusportions so as tom'ake .up a ,body-encirclingffounday.tion structure. The `beltlljs provided with .a

front central portionlldfincluding Ya-.ibu'c'lzleffl to allow for adjustment to various girthsThe purpose of such a structure, when positioned substantially as indicated in Figures 1 and 4, is to provide mutual support for the garment and for the wearers body. The back is joined to the front as will be described.

The front of the garment is made considerably over-size, leaving provision for the formation, as required, of large adjustable'pleats 2D. Lacing 2l extending through eyelets 23 makes it possible to let the front piece out to its full width or t0 draw the material in to form pleats as required.

The front and back pieces are joined together at their outside edges by lines of stitching 30 which extend from the hem of the skirt up to a point somewhat below the top thereof, that is, just below the bottom edge of the surplus I5 leaving a side opening or placket 35 at each side ofthe skirt. Buttons and buttonholes 4I or other suitable fastening means are provided to fasten the top edges of the front and back pieces to gether. The buttons may be moved as desired to afford further expansion of the perimeter of the top of the garment. The top parts of the front piece from the termination of the line of stitching 30 to the top conceals the under-structure formed by the surplus piece I5 and the belt I6. l

In the case of slacks, the structure is similar with the exception that the front and back pieces are divided centrally and joined together to form legs, as will be clearly understood.

Operation and advantages ance of normal dress. The garment, whether in expanded or contracted condition, maintains its At the same time, while there are plackets at each side of the skirt, there are no open portions to allow exposure of the wearers The design might be applied to an undergarment.

It might also be desirable to utilize certain of the adjustable features without others or in conjunction with other adjustable features. In any event, it will be understood that, without departing from the spirit of the .invention or the scope of the claims, these and various other modifications may be made in the specific expedients described. The latter are illustrative only and not oiered in a restricting sense, it being desired that cnll7 such limitations shall be placed thereon as may be required by the state of the prior art.

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplify .reference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

I claim:

1. A lower outer waist-supported garment adapted for maternity use, comprising, a back part and a front part, a supporting structure extending from the back part adjacent the Waistline thereof and adapted to encircle the front of the body to give mutual support to the garment and to the body of the wearer, said supporting structure being adjustable to allow expansion at the waistline, a front part connected to the back part adjacent the side edges thereof for a portion of the height of the front and back parts, top portions of the edges of the back and front parts remaining unjoined to leave an upper portion of the front part, fastening means for connecting said free upper portion to the back part adjacent the waist-line whereby said upper portion is supported in wearing relation to said supporting structure and completely shielding it, said upper portion having an excess of material and means for gathering in or letting out said excess material thereby to regulate the width of said upper portion.

2. A lower outer waist-supported garment adapted for maternity use, as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for gathering in and letting out said excess material include spaced apart eyelets adjacent the waist-line and a drawstring in said eyelets.

LILLIAN HERSCOVICI. 

